How to Recover and What to Do After a Hurricane or Other Disaster

The hurricane or other disaster is now over and it is time to venture outside or to return to your home if you have evacuated. The moments after a natural disaster can be a time of uncertainty. The main thing you do not want to do is panic. Do the things necessary to protect yourself and your family and keep as safe as possible. Whether you stayed at you home or evacuated, once the hurricane or disaster is over you need to survey the damage. If your home has been destroyed, it is natural to feel lost but remember it is just property. Property can be replaced. People can not. This article takes you through some of the initial steps to begin rebuilding and put you on the road to recovery.

Things You Will Need

Insurance information, Materials to board up and protect your property if necessary, Hurricane or other disaster kit,

Step 1

Listen to the radio or weather radio to learn when it is ok to return to your home and only return when you are notified that is safe to do so. Avoid floodwaters especially when driving because the depth and current strength may be deceiving. Avoid downed power lines and report them as well as any other safety hazards you see to authorities. Be aware of spoiled food and contaminated water. Also, use flashlights instead of candles. Candles can be a fire hazard and if a gas leak is present the combination could be deadly.

Step 2

Be careful when entering a damaged building. If the property has sustained substantial damage, it is best to call in professional help. Report downed power lines and gas leaks to the utility company. Never turn on the power while standing in water and if the house has been flooded, do not turn the power back on. Let a professional restore your utilities.

Step 3

Take the necessary steps to protect your home and property from sustaining further damage. This may include boarding up windows, covering the roof with plastic tarps and salvaging undamaged items.

Step 4

Report the loss to your insurance carrier as soon as possible. Keep damaged items until the insurance adjuster has visited your home. Also photographs and video of the damage where it occurred will help to support your claim. Insurance can be complicated. If you do not understand something, ask for a full explanation. Now is not the time to be shy.

After the hurricane or other disaster has passed, do the things necessary to protect yourself and your family and keep as safe as possible. Whether you stayed at you home or evacuated, once the hurricane or disaster is over you need to survey the damage. If your home has been destroyed, keep in mind that it is just property. Property can be replaced. People can not.

Tips & Warnings

Make copying important documents a yearly ritual as things change over the course of time., Verify the freshness of food and batteries in your kit several times a year.

Comments

Feb 23, 2010 2:10am

Sullysee
Recovering from hurricanes and other disasters is a scary time. Having been in several here in Florida, we know it's important to follow these steps and to keep as level headed and calm as possible. Good article.

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